Instant three play game

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a three-symbol casino card game. The game is played with one or a plurality of 48 card decks consisting of 16 cards marked with one of three symbols or names. Bets are placed before an initial deal of three cards to each player and the dealer. After reviewing their cards, the players may exchange one or two cards and the dealer may exchange cards according to the house rules. A hand of one card of each symbol wins against other hands or ties another such hand. If the dealer receives or builds a three-symbol hand, his hand pushes against player built three-symbol hand. If the dealer receives a hand with three cards of the same symbol, his hand loses to player three-symbol hand, but wins if the player fails to build a three-symbol hand. Side bets may be placed offering players high returns contingent on being dealt a statistically unlikely or specific hand.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

None

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to card games and more particularly to a three-symbol card game known as “Instant Three Play” designed for casino play.

Casino games continue to enjoy growing popularity among people who are fascinated by games of chance and play them for entertainment. As casino popularity grows, the need for new games based on familiar themes becomes important. Casino managers must continually update existing games and develop new ones to maintain interest from customers, increase revenue, and compete with other casinos.

One problem frequently associated with new casino games is that they are unfamiliar. In addition, they are frequently complex and difficult to learn. Since gamblers place a premium on understanding the fundamental rules of a game, a new game must be easy to learn and play in order to be successful. The present invention solves problems typical of new casino games by taking advantage of this principle.

In typical casino games, gamblers play against the casino or “house” and sometimes against each other. Numerous games of chance involve this type of play. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,861,041 and 5,087,405, to Jones et al., both disclose methods and apparatus for progressive jackpot gaming. The former patent discloses a method for a player to make an additional wager at the beginning of a hand. The outcome of that additional wager is then determined by a predetermined arrangement of cards in the player's hand.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,310 to English discloses a method of playing a casino type wagering card game, wherein this game combines aspects of five-card draw poker and seven-card stud poker. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,759 to Webb et al., discloses a casino style wagering game against a dealer, comprising the steps of placing a wager, dealing a three card hand to each player, dealing at least three cards to the dealer, and paying the player on the bet when a poker rank of his hand exceeds the rank of a dealer's hand.

Int'l Pat. App. No. 2004/004849 to Frisoli discloses a method for a card game based on the children's game “rock paper scissors.” This game involves a specialized deck of cards bearing three symbols, however its rules are more complex; relying on multiple winning hand combinations and different rules of play.

With the exception of Frisoli, the games in the prior art are fundamentally different from the methodology used in the present invention, and although Frisoli discloses a set of cards with three symbols, the similarities end there. The present invention involves a card game that relies on and incorporates wagering principles using a modified and simplified deck of cards. It is a principle object of the present invention to provide an improved card game and casino game of chance based on the use of a deck with only three card types or symbols.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a card game designed for a casino play that is simple to play and easily understood by the participants. Another object of the present invention is to provide a card game designed for casino play that is exciting, stimulates player interest, and has a quick outcome to resolve wagering during the game. These and other objects will become apparent from the following accompanying drawings and description.

SUMMARY

A three-symbol card game is disclosed using a modified deck of 48 cards, each of which are marked with one of three given symbols or names, for example; “Gold Silver and Bronze” or “Red White and Blue,” etc. For the purpose of this description, the cards “Ace King and Queen” will be used. Furthermore, a plurality of decks may be used to play the game.

In each round of the game, a player makes a bet before the cards are dealt. Once all bets are placed, every player and the dealer receive three cards. Players may then exchange one or two cards to improve their hand. The dealer is then allowed to exchange cards according to the house rules. Side bets may also be placed before the initial deal, based on potential card combinations created by the initial deal.

At the completion of the card exchange, all bets are settled. Losses and Payouts are determined according to a pre-determined set of rules or a pay table, depending on the number and type of symbols in each hand, as well as the rules regarding side bets. Once all bets are settled, the dealing cycle is repeated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a card game layout to be applied to a standard casino gaming table and which may be used to play the game of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a casino card table with card game layouts of FIG. 1 applied to several stations.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the present invention with three symbol cards.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart indicating the rules of play.

FIGURES—REFERENCE NUMBERS

10 Three Symbol Game Apparatus

11 Casino Gaming Table

11A Curved side of the Table

11B Straight side of the Table

12 Player Position

13 Dealer Position

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A preferred embodiment of the table layout of the present invention is illustrated as shown in FIG. 1, upon which the casino-type three-symbol wagering card game, known herein as “Instant Three Play” 10 is played. It includes a standard casino gaming table 11 having a curved side 11A for accommodating the maximum number of players and a straight side 11B to accommodate a casino dealer station. One preferred embodiment illustrated as FIG. 2 accompanies six positions 12 on the player side 11A of the table 11. The cards are dealt from the dealer position 13.

The “three symbol game” is played using a modified deck consisting of 48 cards. The 48-card deck consists of 16 cards, each marked with any of three symbols. Any three symbols or cards may be used for the purpose of deck structure, for example; “Gold Silver and Bronze,” “Red White and Blue,” etc. For the purpose of this description, the cards ‘Ace’, ‘King’, and ‘Queen’ are used. The cards are shuffled before the start of play, and a plurality of decks may be used.

Before dealing the initial hand, each player makes a bet. Once all bets are placed, every player receives three cards face up. The dealer receives three cards face down. The cards are preferably dealt into the designated game spaces 1, 2 and 3 in the game layout (FIG. 1) on the game table (FIG. 2). The cards may be dealt by hand, from an automatic shuffler with multiple decks, a ‘shoe’ or other device. The dealer's cards are placed face down in front of the dealer.

A winning hand is one where all three symbols are represented in the hand. In the current example, a winning hand would be “Ace King Queen.” A hand without all three cards is not a winning hand. After viewing their initial cards, each player has the option to exchange one or two cards in order to improve their hand. The dealer will make the card exchanges on behalf of the player, according to their wishes. Every player's hand is completed before the dealer exchanges any cards for the house.

The dealer will exchange cards or stand pat according to the house rules. House rules comprise, but are not limited to the following: The dealer stands pat with an Ace King Queen, and will exchange one of any pair. A dealer with three cards of the same symbol also stands pat, and the hands are evaluated according to alternate “Trips” rules as will be explained.

Once the player and dealer card exchanges, if any, are completed, the bets are settled. If the dealer has failed to make Ace King Queen, the players are paid as follows: A player failing to make Ace King Queen results in a ‘push’ and the bet is returned. A player with Ace King Queen, whether initially dealt, known as ‘natural’, or constructed based on a card exchange, known as ‘built’, wins even money.

If the dealer has either a natural or built Ace King Queen, the players are paid as follows: A player failing to make either a natural or built Ace King Queen loses his bet. A natural or built hand that matches the dealer's Ace King Queen results in a push.

If the dealer's hand contains three of the same cards, Ace Ace Ace, King King King, or Queen Queen Queen, the game enters triples or “Trips” mode. When the dealer has trips the bets are settled as follows: A player with either a natural or built Ace King Queen wins and is paid even money. A player failing to make either a natural or a built Ace King Queen loses his bet. Once all hands are settled, the dealing cycle is repeated as before.

The following table is a representation of possible outcomes based on normal play and Trips rules. “Even” indicates that a player is returned their bet and paid an equal amount from the house. “Push,” indicates that the player is returned his bet. “Lose,” indicates that a player loses the bet. These rules may be modified to alter the statistical outcome of the game: Dealer Player Natural Built Missed Trips Natural Push Push Even Even Built Push Push Even Even Missed Lose Lose Push Lose

The invention will also incorporate bonus bets or side bets at the operator's option. These bets are designed as an insurance against the player being dealt an unfavorable hand such as Trips, and serves as a higher risk wager for gamblers interested in wagering on a hand that is statistically unlikely but pays out at a higher rate. While other embodiments of the side bets rules may include payouts based on built hands and other card or suit combinations, one preferred embodiment of this element of the invention is as follows: Bet Pays Any Natural Dealt to a Player 1  3:1 Any Trips Dealt to a Player 1  8:1 Any Player Dealt “Ace” Trips 1 25:1 Any Player Dealt “King” Trips 1 25:1 Any Player Dealt “Queen” Trips 1 25:1

Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, various modifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is understood that the present invention has been described by way of illustration and not limitation. 

1. A three-symbol card game wherein each card in a deck of 48 cards bears one of three symbols, resulting in 16 cards of each symbol.
 2. A method of playing a casino-type three symbol card game comprising at least one said deck of said cards, wherein; (a) a player makes an initial bet and is dealt a player hand of three said cards face up; (b) a dealer deals a hand of three said cards face down to himself; (c) said player views said player hand and elects to either keep said player hand, or exchange one or two cards from said player hand; (d) said dealer views said dealer hand and elects to keep said dealer hand or exchange one card from said dealer hand according to established rules; (e) if said player hand comprises one card of each symbol after said initial bet, and said dealer fails to assemble one card of each symbol in said dealer hand, said player wins an amount equal to twice said initial bet; (f) if said player hand comprises one said card of each said symbol after said exchange, and said dealer fails to assemble one said card of each said symbol in said dealer hand, said player wins an amount equal to twice said initial bet; (g) if both said player hand and said dealer hands comprise one said card of each said symbol, said player is returned said bet; (h) if both said player hand and said dealer hand fail to assemble one said card of each said symbol, said player is returned said bet; and (i) repeating said method with another said bet.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein said dealer hand comprises any three said cards of the same said symbol.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein if said player hand comprises one said card of each said symbol after said bet, said player wins an amount equal to twice said bet.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein if said player hand does not comprise one said card of each symbol after said bet, said player loses said bet.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein bonus bets may be made by said player along with said initial bet; said bonus bets contingent upon said dealer dealing a specific combination of said cards.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein said player hands are dealt to a plurality of players.
 8. The method of claim 3, wherein said player hands are dealt to a plurality of players.
 9. The method of claim 6, wherein said player hands are dealt to a plurality of players.
 10. The method of claim 2, wherein said method is conducted with a plurality of said decks.
 11. The method of claim 3, wherein said method is conducted with a plurality of said decks.
 12. The method of claim 6, wherein said method is conducted with a plurality of said decks. 